September 21, 2007

Heavy Trash: 'Going Way Out With Heavy Trash'

'Old-time tales so authentic it makes Richard Hawley look like Simian Mobile Disco'

6 / 10 Having shifted more units over the Atlantic than a Dido-manned forklift truck, it seems all-American cult hero Jon Spencer (Blues Explosion) has earned the right to experiment with the sensitive roots of rockabilly roll. Admirably, instead of riding his chariot of cheques on a lap on honour, he’s joined pal Matt Verta-Ray (Speedball Baby) to create raunchy-noise hobby Heavy Trash. In short, ‘Going Way Out...’ is a 13-track endeavour of oily, scrap-heap, rusty-mouthed garage blues. To start, there’s ‘Outside Chance’, which straps the spirit of The Cramps into the booster seat of their battered Chevy, and charges into the gulch at dawn. Equally, ‘Double Line’’s old-time tale is so authentic it makes Richard Hawley look like Simian Mobile Disco. At points it gets too much, but Heavy Trash’s steel-toed pillaging of the past still makes them a punk-rock Time Team.

Greg Cochrane

Rate this album

Average rating

Be the first to rate this album

NEW! For the latest music videos and backstage interviews, check out our brand new sister site, NME Video.